Keeping Outer Space Peaceful and Safe

SPACE has become more and more woven into our daily lives: Satellites that orbit the earth send and receive signals and data that are used for Internet communication.

- THOMAS S. AXWORTHY

Satellites also produce GPS networks that allow us to navigate our streets, pinpoint our locations, and monitor our weather. Meanwhile, the introduction of the 5G capability will substantially increase the speed of the Internet and “the Internet of things” propelled by artificial intelligence and the rise of big data.

Over 80 countries own or operate more than 3,000 active satellites now orbiting in space and today almost every person on the globe is a user of space data/ services from the cell phone user in remote parts of Africa, to massive institutions in the U.S. like the Microsoft system cloud storage. While our image of space is usually state-centric with space missions organized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the U.S. or the Chinese National Space Administration, the private sector is increasing its impact in space exponentially: In the past year, SpaceX, owned by entrepreneur Elon Musk, has launched more than 1,000 satellites. According to Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director of Secure World Foundation, in a February 2021 article “Threats to Space Aren’t Just Weapons” published by TRENDS Research & Advisory that succinctly outlines the issues involved in the current debate over outer space and informs much of this commentary, there is a high probability that the number of satellites will reach more than 100,000 by 2029, vastly affecting space traffic considerations, competition over the spectrum, and the problem of space debris.